Winding tube adapter



June 9, 1964 R. L. CARROLL 3,136,498

WINDING TUBE ADAPTER Filed Aug. 27, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet l June 9, 196*? R. L. CARROLL 3,136,498

WINDING TUBE ADAPTER Filed Aug. 2?, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 9, 1964 R. L. CARROLL WINDING TUBE ADAPTER Filed Aug. 27, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 9, 1964 Filed Aug. 27, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I I Fig. 4

I" I I 1 1 1 '"JQ-EE- I 32 I I l l l l I l 36 I g W42 /JILL" P I II-- 40 United States Patent 3,136,498 WINDING TUBE ADAPTER Robert L. Carroll, 408 Mclver St., Greenviiie, S.(Z., Filed Aug. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 219,674 4 Claims. (til. 242-130) This invention relates to a winding tube adapter adapted for use on machines for twisting yarn used in weaving various types of products.

An object of the invention is to provide an adapter for detachably mounting winding tubes carrying yarn which are very easy to load and unload on the adapter.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plurality of tube engaging members on the adapter having the front ends movable inwardly to freely receive the end of a winding tube for slidable movement onto the tube engaging members and movement of the members into substantially parallel relation during the last portion of the movement of the tube onto the tube engaging members for frictionally holding the tube during winding or unwinding operations.

A further object of the invention is to hingedly mount the tube engaging members on a hub member carried by the drive shaft for the adapter in which resilient means normally moves the front ends of the tube engaging members toward the axis of the hub portion so that a tube may be freely applied over the tube engaging members.

A still further object of the invention is to provide stop means on the tube engaging members for limiting the rearward moveemnt of the winding tube on the adapter in its attached position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plurality of ribs at the front and rear ends of the tube engaging members for engaging the end portions of a winding tube as it is moved into fully engaged position on the adapter for tightly retaining the tube in position on the adapter during winding or unwinding operations and yet provide for a quick and easy removal and application of a tube to the adapter.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adapter in which each of the tube engaging members is formed of sheet metal with a pair of angularly extending plate portions joined along one marginal edge and having the outer sides formed with inwardly extending side wall portions forming hinge portions at the inner end for hingedly mounting the tube engaging member on radially extending arms carried by the hub member for providing a simple and efficient construction that is cheap to manufacture, easy to assemble and efficient in operation.

These and other desirable objects may be attained in the manner disclosed as an illustrative embodiment of the invention in the following description and in the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing two winding tube adapters having winding tubes mounted thereon and yarn carried by the tubes extended through the usual guide members to the take-up bobbin carried by the spindle of a twisting machine;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged end elevation of one of the adapters illustrated in FIG. 1 showing the details of construction;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross section through the yarn carrying tube showing the adapter in side elevation in tube holding relation; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the adapter as shown in FIG. 3 illustrating the position of the tube engaging members when a tube is not engaged thereon and showing a tube in position to be engaged thereon by movement into the position shown in FIG. 3.

This invention deals with that part of the weaving industry in which fibers are brought together for the production of yarn and wound on a conventional form of Ice winding tube. The winding tube is then mounted on a twisting machine and the yarn Withdrawn from the winding tube, pulled through guides and twisted by a rotating spindle and traveler ring onto a take-up bobbin to prepare the yarn for subsequent use in weaving or warping.

This arrangement is diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 1 in which two winding tubes 2 are shown as being mounted on two separate adapters 4 constructed in accordance with the present invention. The winding tubes 2 each have a length of yarn indicated at 6 wound thereon in preparation for twisting. The yarn from both winding tubes is led through a guide diagrammatically indicated at 8 and then through a pigtail guide indicated diagrammatically at 10. The yarn then extends to and is threaded through the traveler ring 12 mounted on the ring rail 14 from which it extends to and is connected with the takeup bobbin 16.

The take-up bobbin is mounted on a spindle 18 extending through the spindle rail 29. This construction of a twisting machine as diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 1, is well known in the art, and is the type of construction generally referred to as a machine for down twisting of yarn in which two or more lengths of yarn carried by winding tubes can be brought together to be twisted into a single, length of twisted yarn.

The present invention is directed particularly to the construction of the winding tube adapters 4, as illustrated in detail in FIGS. 2-4. The yarn twisting machines are provided with one or more supporting shafts 22 constructed so that each shaft mounts a winding tube adapter 4 on the free end thereof, as shown in FIG. 1.

The winding tube adapter 4 has a hub member 24 engaged over the free end of a supporting shaft 22 as shown in FIG. 4, for example, and retained against rotation thereon by the usual key mounted on the supporting shaft 22 and engaging in a longitudinally extending keyway formed in the hub member. The hub member 24 has a radially extending flange 26 mounted on one end thereof. The outer marginal portion of the flange 26 is formed to provide a plurality of hinge members 28 arranged in pairs, as shown in FIG. 2, in which each pair is formed with alined bores to slidably and detachably receive a hinge pin 30.

Each pair of binge members 28 and the hinge pin 30 engaged therein are arranged to lie in the chord of a circle concentric to the axis of the hub member 24 and in substantially equally spaced relation from and about the hub member 24, as clearly shown in FIG. 2. In the form of the invention illustrated in the drawings, three pairs of hinge members are shown and it will be understood that this is for the purpose of illustration of the invention and that a greater number of hinge members and parts corresponding thereto may be used whenever desired.

A plurality of tube engaging members or saddles 32 equal in number to the number of hinge members, three being shown in the drawings are hingedly mounted one on each hinge pin 30. Each tube engaging member 32 is formed of sheet metal and has two plate portions 34 eX- tending longitudinally from the front to the rear end thereof with adjacent margins connected together along the central portion as clearly shown in FIG. 2. The side margins of the connected plate portions 34 have the sheet metal extended inwardly therefrom to provide the side walls 36 arranged in spaced parallel inwardly extending relation.

These-side walls 36 have the inner edges tapering from the front and rear ends of the plate portions inwardly toward each other and the central portions of the tube engaging member 32 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The central portion is formed to provide a hinge portion having an aperture for receiving the hinge pin Tail. The side walls 36 of each of the tube engaging members 32 are n as spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the pair of hinge members 23 on which it is mounted so as to slidably and rotatably engage the outer ends of the pair of hinge members 28 on the outer ends of the hinge pin 30, as clearly shown in FIG. 2. The width of the plate portions 34 are formed to provide the proper spacing of the side walls 36 for mounting on the ends of a hinge pin as above described.

The plate portions 34 are arranged in an angularly extending relation in which they form chords of a circle concentric with the axis of the shaft 22 and the hub portion 24 with the radius of the circle substantially equal to the inside diameter of a winding tube 2 that is designed to be detachably mounted thereon. This provides a construction where the side and center margins of the plate portions 34 form longitudinally extending ridges or ribs indicated at 38 adapted to engage portions of the inner wall of a winding tube slidably engaged and stretched over the adapter.

The rear end of each adapter 4 has the plate portions 3% thereof formed with radially extending stop flanges at as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4. These radial stop flanges extend outwardly a sufficient'distance to engage the rear end of a winding tube 2 engaged on the adapter to limit the movement of the winding tube over the tube engaging members 32 and position it in a predetermined relation thereon so the yarn carried by the tube can be properly fed into the guide 3 in movement toward the take-up bobbin during the twisting operation. The plate portions 34 have the outer side marginal portions at the front and rear ends thereof formed with a plurality of outwardly projecting beads 42 extending for a short dis tance along both the front and rear marginal portions of the side edges of each of the tube engaging members 32.

The hinge pins 30 extending in transverse relation to the hub member 24 each hingedly mount one of the tube engaging members 32 for longitudinal rocking movement from a position substantially as shown in FIG. 3, to the position shown in FIG. 4, in which the front ends of each of the plate portions 34 of the tube engaging members 32 are moved inwardly toward the axis of the shaft 22 and the hub member 24 to facilitate the application of a winding tube 2 tov the adapter. A coil spring 44 is mounted between the head on a hinge pin 30 and the adjacent hinge portion of the side wall 36'as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, with a pair of outwardly extending arms arranged to have one arm engage the adjacent portion of a hinge member 28 and the adjacent portion of a side wall 35. Each coil spring 44 is tensioned when applied to the hinge pin in the manner shown in FIGS. 2-4 for normally roclring each of the tube engaging members 32 on its hinge pin 39 into the position shown in FIG. 4 as above described. FIG. 4 shows the normal position in which the tube engaging members 32 of the adapter forming the present invention will lie when a winding tube is not engaged thereon. This provides an adapter construction in which a winding tube may be quickly and easily engaged or disengaged thereon.

When it is desired to engage a winding tube on the adapter of the present invention, it is positioned so that one end will engage over the inwardly extending front ends of the tube engaging members 32, as shown in FIG. 4. The winding tube 2 is then moved rearwardly or downwardly as shown in FIG. 4, around the tube engaging members 32; of the adapter. This downward movement will swing the tube engaging members 32 about their hinge mountings on the hinge pins 3% as the movement of the tube progresses toward the rear ends.

The tube engaging members 32 will readily move on the hinge pins and the tube will easily slide over the outer surfaces thereof and over the ridges 38 until the tube engaging members 32 reach a substantially parallel position as shown in FIG. 2 when the rear end of the tube engages with the ends of the beads 42 at the rear ends of the plate portions 34 adjacent to the stop flanges ings and described above.

drawings and described above.

When this position is reached it is necessary to forcibly shove or push the winding tube 2 over the beads 42 which will bring the beads 42 at the front end of the plate portions into engagement with the inner wall portions at the opposite end of the winding tube to provide substantial frictional engagement with the winding tube. The winding tube will be pushed onto the beads 42 at the rear end of the plate portions until the end of the tube engages the stop flanges 40 when the beads 42 at both the front and rear ends of each of the tube engaging members 32 will engage opposite inner walls of the winding tube and firmly retain it in position on the adapter.

Frequently, when yarn is wound on the adapter as shown at 6 in FIGS. 1 and 3, it is likely to cause slight deformation of the winding tube. The construction of the present adapter with the hinged tube engaging members 32 formed with the ridges 33 and the beads 42 will cooperate to re-shape the winding tube into a substantially cylindrical form while it firmly engages the inner walls of the tube particularly at opposite ends, for firmly retaining the winding tube on the adapter. When the tube is fully engaged on the adapter in the position shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, it is then ready to have the yarn 6 withdrawn therefrom for twisting in the manner shown and described above in connection with the illustration in FIG. 1.

When it is desired to remove a winding tube from the adapter, it may be readily engaged between the tube engaging members 32 and pulled forwardly to disengage the rear end from the beads 42 at the rear end of the plate portions 34 when the tube engaging members will move on the hinge pins 35) toward the position shown in FIG. 4, so the winding tube may be quickly and easily removed from the adapter.

From the above description it will be understood that winding tubes may be readily applied in a minimum of time to the adapter forming the present invention. It will be understood that any number of tube engaging members 32 may be used in the construction of the adapter in addition to the three disclosed in the draw- Since winding spools and adapters embodying the invention as above described, will be made in many different sizes, it will be understood that in larger sizes it will be found more expedient to increase the number of the tube engaging members 32 used in the construction of the adapter from that shown in the By constructing each of the tube engaging members from sheet metal in the manner described, they are easy to assemble on the radial flange carried by the hub member and are readily formed from sheet metal to provide a construction and assembly that is inexpensive and may be readily assembled and inspected to determine its condition of operation.

It is seen from the foregoing disclosure that the objects and purposes of the invention are well fulfilled. It is to be understood that the foregoing disclosure is given by way of illustrative example only, rather than by way 'of limitation, and that without departing from the invention, the details may be varied within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A winding tube adapter, comprising a hub member, a radial fiangemounted on said hub member having the outer marginal portions thereof'formed to provide hinge portions with the axis of each hinge portion forming the chord of a circle concentric with the axis of said hub portion, a plurality of tube engaging members equal in number to said hinge portions, each tube engaging member being formed of a sheet metal plate having a pair of angularly extending longitudinal plate portions joined along the inner side edges forming chords of a circle concentric to said hub member, side flanges projecting inwardly in substantially parallel relation from the outer side edges of said plate portions and having the central inner marginal portions formed to provide hinge portions movement in a radial plane intersecting said hub member, a plurality of springs, one mounted on each hinge pin having portions engaging a side flange on a tube engaging member and said radial flange for normally moving said tube engaging members to position the front ends inwardly toward the axis of said hub member, and

ribs formed on each plate portion at opposite ends along the side margins thereof, whereby a winding tube equal in size to substantially the circumference of the ribs formed along the margins and at the center of each of said tube engaging members when arranged in parallel relation, may be readily engaged about the front ends of said tube engaging members and slidably moved thereover toward the rear ends for moving said tube engaging members on their hinge mountings into substantially parallel relation to bring said ribs and side edges'into frictional engagement with spaced portions of the inner wall of said tube as one end of the tube is engaged with said stop flanges for retaining said tube on said tube engaging members for winding and unwinding yarn on the outer surface thereof. 7

2. A winding tube adapter comprising a hub member, a plurality of hinge members extending in spaced radial concentric relation about said hub member, a plurality of tube engaging members arranged in spaced substantially parallel relation to each other and in circumferential spaced relation about said hub member, each tube engaging member being formed of a sheet metal strip having a plate portion formed of a plurality of angularly arranged longitudinally extending sections and inwardly extending parallel flanges on opposite sides of said plate portion with the central inner ends thereof engaging and hingedly connected to said hinge members, and resilient means engaging adjacent portions of said central inner ends and hinge members to position corresponding ends of said tube engaging members in a position closer to the axis of said hub member than the opposite ends thereof to facilitate sliding movement of a Winding tube onto said tube engaging members for support thereby in substantially concentric relation to said hub member.

3. A construction as defined in claim 2, wherein the plate portions of said tube engaging members have the side margins thereof formed with outwardly projecting beads at opposite-ends for cooperation in engaging and frictionally retaining a winding tube on said tube engaging members.

4'. A winding tube adapter comprising a hub member, a plurality of hinge members extending in spaced concentric relation about said hub member, a plurality of tube engaging members arranged in spaced substantially parallel relation to each other in circumferential spaced relation about said hub member, each tube engaging member being formed of a sheet metal strip having a 7 plate portion arranged in circumferential relation to said hub member and inwardly extending spaced parallel flanges on opposite sides of said plate portion with the central inner ends thereof engaging and hingedly connected to said hinge members, and resilient means engaging adjacent portions of said central inner ends and hinge members to position corresponding ends of said tube engaging members in a position closer to the axis of said hub member than the opposite ends thereof to facilitate sliding movement of a winding tube onto said tube engaging members for engagement with spaced portions of the plate portions thereof for support thereby in substantially concentric relation to said hub member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,976,952 Longvall Oct. 16, 1934 2,258,262 Ross Oct. 7, 1941 2,713,979 Sigman July 26, 1955 3,055,608 Drake Sept. 25, 1962 

2. A WINDING TUBE ADAPTER COMPRISING A HUB MEMBER, A PLURALITY OF HINGE MEMBERS EXTENDING IN SPACED RADIAL CONCENTRIC RELATION ABOUT SAID HUB MEMBER, A PLURALITY OF TUBE ENGAGING MEMBERS ARRANGED IN SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL RELATION TO EACH OTHER AND IN CIRCUMFERENTIAL SPACED RELATION ABOUT SAID HUB MEMBER, EACH TUBE ENGAGING MEMBER BEING FORMED OF A SHEET METAL STRIP HAVING A PLATE PORTION FORMED OF A PLURALITY OF ANGULARLY ARRANGED LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SECTIONS AND INWARDLY EXTENDING PARALLEL FLANGES ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID PLATE PORTION WITH THE CENTRAL INNER ENDS THEREOF ENGAGING AND HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID HINGE MEMBERS, AND RESILIENT MEANS ENGAGING ADJACENT PORTIONS OF SAID CENTRAL INNER ENDS AND HINGE MEMBERS TO POSITION CORRESPONDING ENDS OF SAID TUBE ENGAGING MEMBERS IN A POSITION CLOSER TO THE AXIS OF SAID HUB MEMBER THAN THE OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF TO FACILITATE SLIDING MOVEMENT OF A WINDING TUBE ONTO SAID TUBE ENGAGING MEMBERS FOR SUPPORT THEREBY IN SUBSTANTIALLY CONCENTRIC RELATION TO SAID HUB MEMBER. 